Setscrew locking means



April 24, 1951 A. KosT 2,549,823 I SET SCREW LOCKING MEANS Filed Nov. 18, 1946 I /5 /4 7 Fig. 4

INVEN TOR.

Patented Apr. 24, 1951 UNITED STATEv i ATEZNT @FFKCE SETSCBEW LOCKING MEANS Alwin Kost, Portland, Oreg.

Application November 18, 1946, Serial No. 710,523

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to a set screw locking means.

An object of this in ention is to provide set screw locking means for use between the end of a set screw and another fixed part to lock the set screw.

Another object is to provide set screw locking means that will effectively look a set screw against loosening by vibration or shock and yet will allow the set screw to be unscrewed in the usual manner by the application of wrench or like means thereto.

Another object of this invention is to provide a set screw locking device comprising a hat shaped body having a set screw abutment member on one side thereof and having an annular flange extending outwardly from said abutment member and further having integral, resilient, inclined pawls projecting from said flange on the side opposite said set screw abutment member.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent fromthe following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a set screw locking device constructed in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same looking in the direction of line 22 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on broken line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Figure 4 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation showing this set screw locking de vice in an operative position locking a set screw in a member into which the set screw is threaded.

Like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the several views.

Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive show a preferred embodiment of my invention in the nature of a one piece set screw locking device shaped somewhat like a hat.

This locking device comprises a dome shaped set screw abutment member t having an annular flange l. The flange 1 has a plurality of resilient inclined pawls 8. The pawls 8 are preferably formed by providing radial cuts 9 and short cylindrical cuts 56 in L-shaped formation in the flange 3' so that each pair of cuts 9 and 50 de fine one end and one side of each pawl 8. The portions thus out along one end and one side are bent outwardly so that the pawls 8 protrude in the opposite direction from the set screw abutting member 6.

Each pawl 8 has a relatively sharp edge N that tends to dig into any member against which it is pressed. Also each pawl 55 is resilient so that if it is sprung back into or near its original position in the plane of the flange l, as shown in Fig. 4, it will tend to return to the position in which it is shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

The drawings show a device in which four pawls 8 are provided but it will be understood that the number of these pawls can be varied as desired.

One method of using this locking device is illustrated in Fig. 4 in which the device is positioned in an internally threaded opening ii in a sleeve member it with the side thereof from which the pawls 8 protrude resting on a flattened portion M of a shaft IS. A set screw It having a concave depression ll in its inner end is screwed into the opening !2 and tightened against the locking device sufficiently to lock the shaft l5 and sleeve I3 together. This tends to spring the resilient pawls 8 back into a position in or near the plane of the flange F and causes said pawls 8 to exert a strong outward pressure on the set screw l6 so that the threads of this set screw l6 bind tightly against the threads of the sleeve [3 and the set screw it is effectively locked so that it will not be loosened by vibration.

At the same time the corners l i on the forward ends of the pawls 8 will tend to dig into the sur face It against which they are pressed and these corners H extend in the proper direction to resist unscrewing of the set screw it, depending upon the direction of the thread of said screw. The abutment member 6 is sufficiently strong so that any desired amount of pressure can be exerted through this abutment member against the surface I4.

This locking device can be advantageously used between a set screw and a key on a shaft to hold the key tight and to prevent the part to which the key is applied from being moved by vibration.

The foregoing description and accompanying drawings clearly disclose preferred embodiments of this invention but it will be understood that changes in this device can be made within the scope and spirit of the following claim.

flange and extending at an angle from the side of said flange opposite to said set screw abutmentmember, said pawl members functioning to exert an outward pressure and to resist turning movement of said set screw locking device when said set screw locking device is interposed oetween a set screw and a member that is to be locked and said hollow resilient dome-shaped set screw abutment member serving to disperse and disrupt vibrations which move outwardly toward the set screw, whereby these vibrations will be ineffective to loosen the set screw.

ALWIN KOST.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

5 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,346,867 Weibull July 20, 1920 1,878,425 Olson Sept. 20, 1932 10 1,956,745 Payne May 1, 1934 

